Moynalvey overcame a stern Longwood challenge to qualify for their second Junior A championship final in succession after a thrilling extra time victory in this semi final game played in Pairc Tailteann, Navan on Sunday September 14th.
Damian Dixon halts Mickey Burke’s progress in semi final
Moynalvey 0 – 15 Longwood 0 – 13
Having produced a draw when both sides met earlier this season in the A league, this game was always going to be close and so it proved as the sides were level both at half time and full time before Moynalvey pulled clear in extra time to earn their place in the final.
Moynalvey started brightest and a pointed free and a point from play by Cathal Sheridan had the men in maroon 0 – 2 to no score clear after 5 minutes. Longwood levelled before Moynalvey again pulled 2 points clear courtesy of a Willie Byrne fisted point and a Sheridan free. Longwood reduced the margin to the minimum with an excellent Mickey Burke point but another Sheridan free had Moynalvey 0 – 5 to 0 – 3 ahead as the half time whistle drew nearer. Longwood however scored 2 points in the space of a minute to leave the half time score level at 0 – 5 apiece.
Longwood came quickest out of the blocks in the second half and pushed 0 – 7 to 0 – 5 clear after 40 minutes. However, Moynalvey responded emphatically and 4 points on the trot from John Donoghue, Sheridan (2 frees) and David Donoghue had Moynalvey 2 points clear as the game entered the last 10 minutes. A battling Longwood side, inspired by Burke, never gave up however and levelled the game at 0 – 9 each before an excellent Robbie Quinlan point pushed Moynalvey one point clear as the game entered stoppage time. Longwood had to respond and that they did, earning a free 35 metres out which Burke despatched with the last kick of the game to send the match to extra time.
Longwood scored straight from the throw in but this proved to be the last time they led as 3 Moynalvey points from Sheridan (2 frees) and Willie Byrne had Moynalvey 0 – 13 to 0 – 11 ahead at half time in extra time. Longwood twice closed the gap to the minimum on the resumption but could never draw level and an inspirational Sheridan score from play from near the corner flag followed by a mammoth 55 metre free secured Moynalvey’s place in this year’s decider.
This was a great team performance against an excellent Longwood side who gave their all. Moynalvey will now take on a strong Ratoath side in the final attempting to make amends for last year’s heartbreaking one point defeat to Clann na Gael.
Team & scorers – O Regan, R Kiernan, P Donoghue, D Kane, P Weldon, D Dixon, A Brien, S Donoghue, J Donoghue (0 – 1), S Reilly, C Sheridan (0 – 10, 0- 8 frees), D Donoghue (0 – 1), M O’Sullivan, W Byrne (0 – 2), B Gilsenan. Subs – R Quinlan (0 – 1) for S Reilly, C Collins for B Gilsenan, B Dixon for C Collins, PJ Walsh for C Sheridan.
